SEOUL: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, expressed ‘grave concern’ regarding the discussions on potential military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, including the prospect of arms trade, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said on a Saturday.
In a brief meeting held on Friday, Blinken, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa concurred on the necessity of responding resolutely to any actions that pose a threat to regional security, particularly those in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, according to an official statement from the ministry.
During a weeklong visit to Russia the week before, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, engaged in discussions about military cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US and South Korea officials voiced apprehension that this summit might facilitate Russia’s acquisition of ammunition from North Korea to bolster its dwindling supplies for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized on Wednesday that if Russia were to support North Korea in enhancing its weapons programs in exchange for assistance in its Ukrainian conflict, it would be “a direct provocation” and Seoul and its allies would not stand idly by.
